“Rest assured na ang success ng lahat ng ating leaders ay success ng ating bansa.”
This was how Senator-elect Alan Peter Cayetano encouraged the Filipino people to support and pray for all government leaders as he spoke in a live video on his official page before the weekend.
“At sa sobrang taas ng presyo ng mga bilihin, sa sobrang dami ng mga problema, whether administrasyon o oposisyon, majority or minority, we all have to play a role in building our nation at magtulong-tulong,” he added.
The former Speaker and his wife incoming Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano were in Malacañang Palace at the time for their oath-taking with President Rodrigo Duterte, who will be stepping down on June 30 after six years at the country’s helm.
“We all have to pray for the success of each other,” he said.
At the same time, Cayetano said he hopes the President will play the role of elder statesman after his term ends in light of the challenges the country faces as it emerges from the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic amid an unsettled global geopolitical landscape.
“I hope the President will continue to be our elder statesman. Kailangan na kailangan pa rin natin si President Duterte kahit na wala na siyang posisyon,” he said.
Unity and cooperation
Cayetano also pointed out the importance of a constructive approach to the work ahead of him and his colleagues in the Senate, saying unity and cooperation can happen while being able to point out areas of improvement in governance.
“Kung ano man ang role natin sa Senate, tulong-tulong tayong lahat. Simple lang ang rule natin: tulong-tulong, pero ang tama ay tama, at ang mali ay mali,” the former House Speaker said.
He expressed his gratitude for those who helped him make a Senate comeback after an eventful three years in the Lower House.
“I’d like to thank first God and then lahat kayo for putting me back in the Senate, and of course kay Lani sa lahat ng Taguigeno at lahat ng mga nag-pray para sa kanya na makabalik sa mayor’s office,” he said.
Partners for reform
In a separate live video on his official Facebook page on Thursday, Cayetano spoke with fellow Senator-elect Robin Padilla, whom he described as a leader with a “passion” for federalism and constitutional reforms.
“Kung meron naman po talagang yung passion po sa pederalismo at constitutional reforms, at yung pagtaas po ng presyo, yan po ay pagtutulong-tulungan po namin sa Senado,” Cayetano said.
For his part, Padilla lauded Cayetano as a master in bringing people together and said that at the end of the day, elected leaders should be loyal to the Filipino people and not to personalities.
“Kung may heneral ang ranggo ng mga taong magaling makipag-kapwa-tao, wala pong iba yun kundi si Senator Alan Peter Cayetano,” Padilla said.
“Dapat po ang intensyon natin lagi ay yung ikabubuti ng bayan, hindi po yung kung kanino tayo. Dapat yung mahalaga, yung loyalty at yung katapatan natin ay sa bayan,” he added.”
